Vent-plug for beer-kegs



(No Model.)

G. T. BREWER.

VENT PLUG FOR BEER KEGS.

No. 359,840. Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

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Erica GILBERT T. BREW ER, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

VENT-PLUG FOR BEER-KEGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,840, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed November 25, 1885. Serial No. 188,992. (No model.)

To all 20740111, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GILBERT T. BREWER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ho boken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Aerating Apparatus for Beer-Kegs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improveinentin the construction of the plug-tap through which air is supplied to beer-casks for taking the place of the beer withdrawn, as hereinafter fully described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of a counter and the accompanying beer-keg and aerating apparatus about as generally used for serving out beer by the glass with my improved plugtap. Fig. 2 is partly a side view and partly asection of the improved plug as I arrange it.

An air-pump, a, is commonly connected with the beer-keg I) by a flexible hose, 0, and a plug, (1, when the keg is placed on tap to pump air in from time to time as the beer is drawn out, so as to maintain more or less pressure, which keeps the beer in better condition, particularly when business is slack and a single keg lasts over night or longer. The pump also serves to prevent a vacuum at times when the drawing is brisk and the flow of the beer through the tap 6 would be obstructed; but in such cases the working of the pump is apt to be neglected, the attendants being too busy to work it as much as is neces sury to keep up the supply of air. For such contingencies I construct the plug (1, which is employed to connect the flexible hose to the keg, with a valve, f, in theside opposite to the nozzle 9, connecting the hose to open automaticall y in the most ready manner whenever any lack of air may occur in the keg, and thus enable the drawing to be continued without hinderance, no matter how rapidly it may be prosecuted.

My improvement in the plug of the aerating apparatus therefore consists of the same made with the valve attachment], in addition to the nozzle for the hose, the taper section 7:, for inserting in the hole of the bung, and the head i, for driving the plug in tight.

It is to be understood that my improved plug is designed for the apparatus in which the pump is attached in a fixed position, as to a bar, counter, or the front wall of a refrigeu ator, and connects with the plug by a flexible hose, enabling the plug to be readily removed from the empty kegs and applied to the filled ones, as they are frequently changed, and that the nozzle for the connection of the hose and the head for the driving of the plug are essen tial features of the device, as well as the automatic valve. It is also to be observed that myimproved plug is part of a special apparatus, the essential function of which is to aerate the beer by forcing air in the keg and maintaining pressure of greater than atmospheric density therein to keep the beer lively and fresh over night. Furthermore, the apparatus is such as is liable, without the valve, to expose the beer to an atmosphere of less than the natural density-that is to say, a partial vacuum-At the attendant neglects his duty, all of which are features which distinguish my invention from a beer-pump used merely for forcing beer out through a dischargepipe that is always open, and therefore has no need of an automatic valve to close in one condition and open in another.

NVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the aerating pump, flexible hose, and the plug-tap, said tap having the driving-head, hose-pipe connection, and the valve automatically opening inward to admit the air in lack of the supply from the pump, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GILBERT T. BREWER.

Witnesses:

W. J. llIORGAN, S. H. Menuhin. 

